FA to consider heavier sanctions and longer bans for racist abuse in wake of John Terry saga

The Football Association is to consider longer bans for racial abuse in the
aftermath of the John Terry case, but momentum is continuing to grow for a
new association to represent black players and managers.

Making headlines: the John Terry saga has been well documentedPhoto: ACTION IMAGES

By Oliver Brown and Jeremy Wilson

10:22PM BST 23 Oct 2012

David Bernstein, the FA chairman, has warned disillusioned players of the dangers of what he called “fragmentation” but Peter Herbert, who chairs the Society of Black Lawyers, confirmed on Tuesday that provisional talks have been held with players about forming a new organisation.

Herbert told Telegraph Sport that he envisaged a new Black Players’ Association still being part of the Professional Footballers’ Association in a structure similar to equivalent bodies in other industries such as law, medicine, the police and some American sports.

“It is an infant stage and discussions will go on for many weeks and months,” said Herbert. “It is something players have been speaking to us about since before the past week. We are just giving advice but I think it will happen.

"People appear to have decided they have to do something more vigorous. The FA should not fear black players self-organising. They should embrace it.”

While Terry was banned for four matches and fined £220,000 by the FA’s independent regulatory commission after he was found to have racially abused Anton Ferdinand, there is a feeling among some players that the Chelsea captain’s punishment was too lenient, given that Liverpool’s Luis Suárez received an eight-game ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

There is also disquiet over the length of time it took for the FA case to be heard, although the delay was largely due to a separate criminal trial that found Terry not guilty.

The fall-out from the trial will remain on the agenda this weekend when Rio Ferdinand, Anton’s brother, will be part of the Manchester United team who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Terry is suspended from the match but it is understood that Ferdinand has significant reservations about shaking the hand of Ashley Cole, who gave evidence as part of both the criminal and FA investigations.

Bernstein confirmed on Tuesday that the general issue of punishments would be considered by the FA.

“It’s on the agenda to look at it again,” he said. “The FA received a certain, probably limited, degree of criticism for its processes in the Terry thing. We will look at that.”

No fixed sanction for racism yet exists under FA rules, leaving independent disciplinary commissioners to apply the principle of doubling sanctions if there is an “aggravating factor” such as racial abuse.

Pressed on whether the FA would re-examine the tariff for sanctions, Bernstein replied: “I think the tariffs will need looking at. But given the existing scenarios and other punishments elsewhere, actually the commission got it pretty much right.”

Any rule change would need to be put forward by the Football Regulatory Authority before it could come into effect from the start of next season.

Bernstein also strongly defended the record of anti-discrimination body Kick It Out after Rio and Anton Ferdinand, plus Reading striker Jason Roberts, were among those who refused to wear T-shirts calling for a week of action.

“Do I hope players will stay within Kick It Out? Yes I do,” said Bernstein. “Fragmentation would be a shame, but at the same time we have to understand that on moral issues, people have to be able to make their own choices. I hope it doesn’t lead to fragmentation, in the interests of everybody.

“I have great respect for all the parties, for Anton Ferdinand and Rio Ferdinand. Of course I understand their sensitivities. Anton has had a very difficult time, as has his family. The fact this thing has taken so long — even though I would justify the process — certainly hasn’t helped.”

Bernstein also acknowledged that the delay in Terry’s case was far from ideal but stressed that they had come under pressure to wait for the criminal case to resolve itself.

Michel Platini, the Uefa president, meanwhile, has written to minister for sport Hugh Robertson to express his dismay at the “disgraceful” scenes that followed England Under-21’s win in Serbia last week. The FA has lodged a formal complaint, saying that its players were subjected to racist abuse during the 1-0 play-off win in Krusevac.

Keith Vaz, the MP for Leicester East, has also tabled a motion in parliament calling on the FA to take a stronger stance on racism in football.

The fall-out from the current racism storm is impacting on Kick It Out’s ability to continue its campaigns tackling homophobia, sexism and anti-semitism. “Because we are fire-fighting so much at the moment, that impacts on resources for other issues,’’ said a spokesman for Kick It Out, which has an annual budget of only £450,000 and employs seven staff.